The times, they are a-changing, even if it is still high summer and most of these slip by unnoticed by the general public who have other concerns. It usually takes the approach of a storm to get the public’s attention, meanwhile the seasons slowly but steadily clock on.

There are a few oceanographic processes going on right now that escape the eyes of most casual observers. These things are totally normal and almost always occur in the late summer.

The first of these was documented some years ago by scientists who discovered that during August, the warm water on the Bermuda Platform spills off into the surrounding deeper water. In layman terms, the water covering the reef areas and inshore waters heats up quicker than the surrounding deeper water. Warming water causes it to expand and so the water of the inner bottom moves off the shelf. This is often visible from aircraft as a colour variation that pretty much follows Bermuda’s Edge around the Island.

This water is probably as nutrient rich as the waters in this part of the world ever get and so it leads to a bit of what is called a planktonic bloom. Basically, the micro-sized plants and animals experience population explosions. It is pretty much common sense: the presence of lots of sunlight and an abundance of nutrients allow the plants, micro as they are, to flourish and multiply. Then the abundance of plant material allows the zooplankton which are micro animals to enjoy almost unlimited grazing on the plants resulting in their population exploding. It is this abundance of life that causes the slight colour variation to the aerial observer while fishermen might refer to it as “green water”.

In areas where there are much more significant inputs of nutrients from rivers and other land-based sources, these blooming events are much more extreme and therefore noticeable. In northern climes, it can be the amount of daylight that is responsible for the profusion of life, making it much more seasonal.

At this time of the year, this phenomenon can also be noticeable inshore, most obvious in more enclosed places like Hamilton Harbour or Jew’s Bay where the water can take on an almost electric look, kind of like its colour tending to be a bit day glo-ish. It does not usually last long as it is dependent on calm, bright sunny conditions; but it does occur.

While this can all slip by unnoticed, Mother Nature is well aware of it and certain species are too. Just recently whale sharks have been seen in the local area. These fish are behemoths which feed exclusively on vast quantities of plankton. If there wasn’t enough for them to feed on, they would not be here. In fact, it is the general paucity of plankton here most of the year that reduces their visits to very occasional. The sighting of them here can be a rare and wondrous thing.

It must be remembered that most fish, even the large game fishes, start off as tiny little organisms that have just hatched out. Their only source of food in the great wide ocean are the microscopic living things that comprise plankton. If, as is known, some fish, including the blue marlin, spawn in the vicinity of Bermuda, some sort of increase in plankton is necessary to sustain these larvae as they start on the very risky journey of becoming a top-level predator themselves. So perhaps, the timing of an increase in plankton locally coincides with the reproduction of so many different species, all of which are really only seen as adults. After all, fish have to come from somewhere.

And this brings up the long-awaited, but less than reliable, influx of juvenile little tunny. Usually, called “frigate mackerel” which they are not, these make wonderful live baits. Best of all, in a perfect world, this will coincide with the autumnal run of wahoo. Let fingers be crossed.

The offshore at present continues to produce small numbers of wahoo, plenty of both yellowfin and blackfin tuna, along with loads of smaller game. For those looking, the billfish are also still here. A visiting boat Reel Lax, skippered by Captain James Barnes who boasts a strong Bermuda connection, has enjoyed action from multiple blues on each of their sorties onto the deep.

Another arrival of sorts, after an absence, has been schools of oceanic bonito. Also known as skipjack tuna, these used to be more common in local waters than they have been the last few seasons. Widespread through tropical waters, this is an important food fish in a lot of locales, often being marketed as canned tuna. From the angler’s perspective the skipjack is known as a hard battling opponent on suitable tackle. The world records come from literally all over the world with the largest fish just over 40lb. Bermuda holds one record dating back to 1978. One thing is for sure, get a skipjack to take whatever you have on offer, and you will be most assured of Tight lines!!!